Spokesman Gus Melonas said the collision happened late Wednesday afternoon at a private rail crossing in the Longview, Wash., area, as the van was leaving a BNSF railyard to take the crew members to Vancouver.

Killed were the van driver and two crew members. Melonas said a fourth person was hospitalized.

The loaded grain train was bound from Crookston, Minn., to Seattle. It did not derail.

Railway officials and local authorities are investigating. Melonas said he did not immediately have identification on the victims.